This week at the station

This week at Mawson: 19 April 2013

Mawson darts

Darts has proven to be a popular social activity this year at Mawson, with no signs yet of waning popularity. Some nights can see up to eight or nine candidates vying for supremacy and the highly sought-after kudos that comes with smashing an opponent. The most popular game is “shanghai”, which over the years has traditionally been the game of champions in Antarctic circles.

The name “shanghai” refers to a particular throw where each of the three successive darts land in a single, double and treble portion of the same number.

When playing darts, it is obviously best to wear clothes in which you feel comfortable, so that you will be completely at ease and unrestricted.

In the above photo, Chris demonstrates what the well-dressed darter wears. This is actually an official Mawson shirt, to which we can all aspire (unless you’re from Davis, or Casey, or Macca, or whatever), but any neat clean short-sleeved shirt will do for the meantime.

Regarding footwear, there could be nothing worse than having a tight-fitting pair of shoes that keep rubbing with each step you take. I personally find a casual soft leather pair the best. When you have settled on a pair, try to keep them only for when you play darts.

When an opponent is taking a shot, it is bad form to rattle loose change in your pockets, deliberately fiddle with your darts, chink glasses or make unnecessary loud trumpet sounds which might disturb him.

Although you may have heard about Mawson darts players keeping fit, I can assure you that this consideration is not really part of their make-up. Some players choose to indulge in exercise bikes, gym workouts or the sauna, but of course this is all a sheer waste of time. Whatever exercise you care to take, it is best not to overdo it. If you are a naturally big person like many of the leading Mawson players, you may care to stay that way.

Keldyn struggles with the concept of "darts"(Photo: Darron Lehmann)

Darron demonstrates what a shanghai looks like(Photo: Darron Lehmann)

Chris shows how wearing the right clothes can help jag a shanghai(Photo: Darron Lehmann)

Keldyn talks Hydroponics

Every two weeks most people on station are rostered to do their duties in the Hydroponics Building. For me it is a chance to get into my shorts, enjoy some humidity, artificial lighting, check on the plants and see how they have progressed. Darron our Met Tech is the head of the show and since volunteering he has done a wonderful job with the role and I can personally say it’s really nice to get some fresh vegetables, herbs and lettuces coming through. I caught up with him this week and this is what he had to say.

Have you done Hydroponics before?
This is my first time as manager, but I have helped out previously at Macca and Davis.

What will you be harvesting this week?
Lettuces, Radishes, Silver beet, Pak Choi (they have taken approximately the same time as the packet said).

Have you enjoyed it?
It has been time consuming but down here in Antarctica it has been a good hobby. When you walk in the door it’s like being in Cairns (with the day we went in at 60% humidity and 21° Celsius).

What is the most challenging things you have faced?
The flooding is a reoccurring issue with a few different causes. The constant planting, transplanting and pruning has also been time consuming.

On the subject of planting how do you go about it?
The lettuces and rocket tend to do best in the seeding tray, while larger seeds such as snap peas tend to grow alright being put straight into the vermiculite (the growing medium we use).

How often are they watered?
Again lettuces and rocket have nutrients fed to them with the water running 24/7. All other plants are watered 5 or 6 times a day for roughly about an hour each time. In addition to that the lights are turned on for 16 hours per day. All the timers are automatic.

Is there anything I have missed or you would like to tell me that would be of interest to the reader?
Seeing as we have no bees down here to pollinate the flowering plants, we have to use a paintbrush.

Until Next time
Keldyn

Darron in his garden(Photo: Keldyn Francis)

The herb garden(Photo: Keldyn Francis)

The lettuce patch(Photo: Keldyn Francis)

Swiss Chard anyone?(Photo: Keldyn Francis)

Perhaps Bok choi then?(Photo: Keldyn Francis)

Darron cleans up another water hazaed(Photo: Keldyn Francis)

Blizz tales, or is that tails?

When the station gets hammered by winds up to 92 knots and nearly four days of blowing snow its good to see it end and the sun come back. We copped this at Mawson last week and when the wind finally dropped of and made getting outside a little more pleasant it was time to see how all that snow had changed the landscape.

When the snow blows down from the plateau most of it blows out to sea but anywhere that there is a boulder , building or other obstruction it builds up on the downwind side and forms blizz tails. Some of these can be quite large. This week snow built up to over three metres deep in some places. The photos below will give you a bit of an idea.

The top of the tanks are normally 4 metres off the ground.(Photo: Graham Cook)

Blizz tail side on at lower fuel farm(Photo: Graham Cook)

the lower fuel farm from the bottom end(Photo: Graham Cook)

A long tail snakes down the hill from the living quarters to…(Photo: Graham Cook)

Geoff's secret track completely covered(Photo: Graham Cook)

The new road to the workshop(Photo: Graham Cook)

Jeremy punches another road through the blizz tail(Photo: Graham Cook)

Snow plasters the Casey Range just west of Mawson(Photo: Graham Cook)

Juzzie’s 9 with wine: Cookie

Location: The Dog Room. A room situated in the northern upper level of the Red Shed. This room holds magnificent views of Horse Shoe Harbor as well as West bay and the ensuing buildings that lay between us the Antarctic Vista. The moderately sized room that now houses most of the guitars on station as well as a few little drums, harmonicas, a clarinet, a washboard and a pair of bagpipes, more importantly houses memorabilia pertaining to the dogs of Mawson past. Along with a full sized sled and the tools used by past expeditioners, this room also displays photographs and maps depicting the routes used by the dogs and their handlers.

Sitting amongst all of this Is Graham “Cookie” Cook (our illustrious Station Leader) and myself (an inquisitive soul and part time detective). Over a bottle of Moppity Wine’s Lock and Key Merlot which Cookie tells me of its characteristics like a pro [I look up to see him reading verbatim from the label] we begin our little chat.

This will be your second time here at Mawson, you’ve spent two winters at Davis and another at Casey. What keeps you coming back down?

Your company (I pick up a little sarcasm … aren’t we off to a great start), the truth would be it’s still an adventure and I still really enjoy it, the people, the environment. The people always fascinate me, a lot of it’s about working with people. Though underlying it all is the sheer magnificence of the place, the outdoors and the beauty. It’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to come. While I’m still enjoying it and they’re still putting up with me … I can come back. (Not an easy man to put up withJ)

What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen over the last 10 years or so?

I think the type of person coming down here has changed. The culture has changed, the internet may have something to do with that. I think it’s changed for the better. The environment obviously hasn’t changed a great deal, but the work culture and people’s reasons for coming down here have changed. There is now a higher emphasis on safety, which is common throughout all work place. Safe work practices have been at the forefront of my last five trips. So yeah the internet has changed things down here as a social media, a way of communicating, a way of getting information. Umm digital cameras have got people going back to their rooms and downloading photos and working on that stuff. The internet has changed those things and the way we interact on station … and that’s changed dramatically over those few years.

You’re making a Guitar (double neck) again this season after having successfully made one at Davis in 2011. What is the motivation for this and have you left any red food colouring for the kitchen?

[Chuckle] There’s miles of that food colouring for the kitchen … I only took two teaspoons!! ( Well folks it was all over the bench, on the floor and on Cookies hands for a week two teaspoons?)

The motivation is to give me something to do, it gives me an outlet to be creative which I don’t get so much in my work I suppose. Its just a personal creative outlet that I get some satisfaction out of. And its not really about learning to play it either, more its about the craft. After this I also have a very nice mandolin I will be making. (wear gloves this time mate…)

You seem to enjoy researching the history and lores of Antarctica. Are there any interesting facts you’d like to share with us today?

[Chuckle] um now? … About Mawson in particular? Ah no. [chuckle].

Look I’m enjoying reading about why certain places are named and who their named after and look at some of the early trips undertaken down here. I just like to see where people have been before. I’m not studying geology, I’m not studying the bergs or anything else like that, I’m interested in people. The journeys, the voyages and why they undertook them.

Has reading a book ever changed your life? Which one and why? … if yes

Oh well I’d have to say ‘Once more on my adventure’ biography of Frank Hurley is the reason I am here. I read this when I was 12 and I really enjoyed that. There is a whole heap of books that changed my opinions I think one of the most interesting books that I’ve read in the last 15–20 years is ‘Why Warriors lie down and die’ by Richard Trudgeon. It’s about Aboriginals in east Arnhem Land, It gives a bit of an insight into some of their lives.

You mention living in Arnhem land quite often as being a very rewarding time in your life in both work and personal growth. Can you see yourself spending time there again?

Yes. I went back there last June, and it was a bit like going home. It showed me there are still some things I’d like to do. The people are warm and friendly, I’m welcomed there. Embraced, which was phenomenal. With mobile phones and computers and the internet I can now keep in touch … which was not there when I first left. It’s great. Yeah Arnhem Land certainly has an attraction. I’ll go back there. It’s about time … I also need to catch up with my daughters Leah and Rebecca. They’re Important to me. It’s nice to follow my dreams, but I also like to follow theirs and be a part of that too.

The world is a big place do you have a bucket list of sights yet to visit?

[Chuckle] yeah its huge!! [there’s no way I’m gonna achieve it … it’s not a bucket, it’s a huge bloody tank!! [Chuckle]. There’s not enough days left in my life, in anybody’s life to achieve the list. To a degree I can whittle it down. [this is where Cookie starts rattling of names and places around the world … we rejoin him ten minutes later], Kenya, south America, Australia, New Zealand, Australia again… So yeah huge bucket list, lots of things to do, lots of places to do them, and yeah not enough time to do it.

[Enter Cliff with a bowl full of Biltong. He decides to sit right down next to us and commences playing the a guitar … Cookie pours him a wine]

We live in a very unique part of the world. As a Station Leader do you get asked many questions by people back home about life down here? And if so what sorts of questions are asked?

Are there any polar bears!! [really?] … [Chuckle] … more times than enough!!

I think most people ask me why I do it? What keeps you going back there? Strangers ask a lot of simple questions where as my close friends ask what I get out of it. They also want to talk about the people. A lot of people want to come down here to work and ask me my advice as a Station Leader, and what they need to do? I always send them back through the Division, but give them some advice on options.

[Enter Keldyn … Cookie offers up another glass of wine…]

So Cookie is there anything else you want to add?

Yes … anybody who’s got a dream to come and work in Antarctica … it’s up to you. Do something about it. It’s achievable, follow your dreams!!

Thanks for the advice and interview Cookie.

How can you possibly make a guitar sound like bad bagpipe playing(Photo: Justin Chambers)

Watch me one more time I will show you again how it…(Photo: Justin Chambers)